Method and system for athletic motion analysis and instruction

Abstract

A system and method for analyzing and improving the performance of a body motion of an animal or human subject requires instrumenting a subject with inertial sensors, monitoring a body motion of interest, converting sensor data into motion data and animation, comparing the motion data with existing data for motion related performance parameters, providing a real-time, information rich, animation and data display of the results in color coded displays; and based on the results prescribing a training regime with exercises selected from a library of standardized exercises using standardized tools and training aids.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for analysis of a body motion of an animal or human subject, comprising:
 receiving, by a processor of a computer-based motion analysis system, first motion data representing a first body motion associated with a body, from a plurality of inertial sensors in communication with the processor; 
 calibrating, by the processor, the inertial sensors for initial alignment and orientation with respect to the body using the first motion data received from at least one inertial sensor; 
 receiving, by the processor, from the plurality of inertial sensors second motion data representing a second body motion associated with the body; 
 calculating, by the processor, a diagnostic score for the body, according to relational calculations using performance parameters, whereby the performance parameters are determined by comparing the second motion data for more than one body segment received from the inertial sensors for the second body motion to existing motion data for the second body motion stored in a motion database; 
 identifying, by the processor, in the motion database a set of one or more prescribed body motions based upon the diagnostic score for the second body motion; 
 setting, by the processor, a range of body motion limits for the prescribed set of one or more body motions; 
 generating, by the processor, using the second body motion data received from the plurality of inertial sensors, a graphical user interface configured to display an animation of the body performing the second body motion; and 
 generating, by the processor, a first biofeedback signal upon the occurrence of a said body motion conducted within said range of body motion limits, and a different biofeedback signal upon the occurrence of a said body motion exceeding said range of body motion limits, 
 wherein the more than one body segment comprises at least two of a head segment, a neck segment, a thorax segment, a shoulder segment, an arm segment, a hand segment, a pelvis segment, a leg segment, and a foot segment. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the prescribed set of one or more body motions is selected from a pre-defined list of exercises where each exercise is associated with at least one performance parameter, and the order and amount of each exercise of the prescribed set of one or more body motions is associated with the relative levels of said performance parameters. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the prescribed set of one or more body motions requires manipulation of an associated object by a user. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 setting a range of body motion limits for the prescribed set of one or more body motions in advance of said monitoring; and 
 displaying on the graphical user interface a visually apparent three dimensional cage representing said body motion limits, within which said animation is visible. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 altering a selected color on the graphical user interface upon the occurrence of a body motion exceeding the range of body motion limits. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 mounting the multiple inertial sensors to the body of a user in positions relating to a body motion of interest, 
 wherein said sensors are attached to at least one body appliance worn by the user, the sensors and said at least one appliance having a corresponding mating structure by which at least one of the multiple inertial sensors may be uniformly and repeatedly attached with the same orientation to the appliance. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said existing body motion data is selectable by a user from a database of existing body motion data. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , said body sensor data comprising linear motion, linear velocity, rotational motion, and rotational velocity, in three dimensions, for each said sensor. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 communicating motion related instructions to the user, said computer-based motion analysis system configured to communicate said motion related instructions to the user. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 communicating motion related performance reports to the user, said computer-based motion analysis system configured to communicate motion related performance reports to said user. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 2 , said computer-based motion analysis system configured to communicate said prescribed set of one or more body motions to the user. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , comprising displaying said body motion data on the graphical user interface. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , said body motion data comprising a time-based graph of at least one performance parameter associated with the prescribed one or more body motions. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , said inertial sensors incorporating wireless data transmitters, said computer-based motion analysis system incorporating a wireless data receiver. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , said computer-based motion analysis system comprising a video camera connected to the system; said method comprising:
 monitoring the execution of said prescribed set of one or more body motions with the camera; 
 collecting a video signal of the monitored body motions; 
 displaying the video signal on the graphical user interface concurrently with said animation and said body motion data. 
 
     
     
       16. A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a processor of a computer-based motion analysis system, motion data representing a body motion associated with a body, from a plurality of body mountable inertial sensors in communication with the processor, the inertial sensors being mounted at target areas of the body relating to the body motion; 
 determining, by the processor, a range of motion limits for more than one body segment of the body motion based upon calibrating the processor using first motion data received from the inertial sensors for initial alignment and orientation of each respective target area of the body; 
 receiving, by the processor, second motion data for the more than one body segment from the inertial sensors during execution of the body motion; 
 comparing, by the processor, the second motion data to the determined range of motion limits for the more than one body segment and signaling when any of the limits exceeds the determined range of motion limits; and 
 generating, by the processor, using the second motion data, a graphical user interface configured to display an animation of the user and the second motion data representing the execution of said body motion, 
 wherein the more than one body segment comprises at least two of a head segment, a neck segment, a thorax segment, a shoulder segment, an arm segment, a hand segment, a pelvis segment, a leg segment, and a foot segment, and 
 wherein the signaling is biofeedback to the user in the form of a tone or a color that differs between a successful execution of the body motion and an unsuccessful execution of the body motion. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 prescribing, by the processor, a prescribed set one or more body motions selected from a pre-defined list of exercises where each exercise is associated with at least one said performance parameter, and the order and amount of each exercise of the prescribed set of one or more body motions is associated with the relative levels of said performance parameters. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the second motion data is stored in the computer database of existing motion data. 
 
     
     
       19. A method for analysis of a body motion of an animal or human subject, comprising:
 using a computer-based motion analysis system comprising multiple, body mountable, inertial sensors in communication with a processor connected to a computer-driven display screen; 
 mounting the multiple inertial sensors to the body of an animal or human subject of interest at target areas of the body relating to a body motion of interest; 
 calibrating the inertial sensors for initial alignment and orientation of each respective target area of the body; 
 setting a range of motion limits for at least two body segments of said body motion; 
 monitoring the execution of said body motion with the motion analysis system; 
 collecting sensor data from said inertial sensors; 
 processing said sensor data so as to generate a graphical user interface configured to display an animation and motion data representing the body motion of said subject on the display screen, 
 comparing, by the processor, the generated motion data to existing motion data for the at least two body segments and signaling to the user when said limits are exceeded; and 
 comparing, by the processor, the generated motion data to the existing motion data and calculating performance parameters related to the body motion; 
 wherein the at least two body segments comprise at least two of a head segment, a neck segment, a thorax segment, a shoulder segment, an arm segment, a hand segment, a pelvis segment, a leg segment, and a foot segment, and 
 wherein the signaling is biofeedback to the user in the form of a tone or a color that differs between a successful execution of the body motion and an unsuccessful execution of the body motion.